SMITH, JOHN G.

SMITH, RICHARDSON, SMITH

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/25/2003 at 21:18:39

Biography reproduced from page 387 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

J. G. Smith is another of Algona’s merchants that still continues to deal in merchandise. This business was established in October, 1866, by John G. and Lewis H. Smith, under the name and style of Smith Brothers. In 1868 Francis C. Rist gave up his stage and mail business on account of ill health, and was admitted as a partner. Lewis H. Smith withdrew from the firm in May, 1870, but the firm was still continued under the old name. Mr. Rist dying in 1872, John G. Smith has continued to run the business alone.

In October, 1866, they were appointed agents for the American Express Company, but on the withdrawal of that company from this line of railroad, in 1869, this agency ceased. In July, 1872, J. G. Smith was appointed agent for the United States Express Company, a position he holds yet.

J. G. Smith, general merchant, was born in Middlesex Co., Mass., March 10, 1840, being there reared and educated. In 1866 he came to Algona and engaged in general merchandise business, being now the oldest merchant doing business at this point. Mr. Smith was for many years agent of the Northwestern Stage Company. He was married in June, 1868, to Lucinda T. Smith, a native of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. They have five children—Maude A., Kate N., Gracie B., Lou R. and Howland S. Mr. Smith has been a member of the city board of aldermen and school trustee of this district, and is now mayor of Algona, being elected in March, 1883. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is a Knight Templar.
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Biography reproduced from page 382 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

John G. Smith was born in Boston, Mass., in 1840. Was well known as the proprietor of a garden near that city. He left Boston a number of years ago, for Algona, where his brother, Lewis H. Smith, had preceded him, and was then in the land business. Mr. Smith, with his brother, embarked in the mercantile trade in our village, and has become an indispensable fixture here. His straightforward business habits are well known.
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Biography reproduced from page 227 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Although John G. Smith is now living with his family in Santa Monica, California, his active business experience in Algona and community made him so well known here that no historical work of Kossuth county would be complete without mention of him. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on the 10th of March, 1840, his parents being Edward and Abigail (Richardson) Smith, more extended mention of whom is made on another page of this volume in connection with the sketch of Lewis H. Smith, a brother of our subject.

John G. Smith received a liberal education in the schools of Massachusetts and early in his business career was well known as proprietor of a garden near Boston. In 1866, being convinced that the great west held out opportunities excelling those of the east, he left his native city and state, settling in Algona, where his brother, the Hon. Lewis H. Smith, had preceded him, being then in the land business. Upon the arrival of John G. Smith in Algona, he and his brother formed the copartnership of Smith Brothers, engaging in the general mercantile business, which they followed successfully for many years. In 1868 Francis C. Rist became a member of the firm of Smith Brothers, which name continued to designate the concern despite the entry of Mr. Rist and the withdrawal, in May, 1870, of Lewis H. Smith and the death of Mr. Rist in 1872. John G. Smith was for a long time agent for the Northwestern Stage Company of Iowa.

In June, 1868, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda T. Smith, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York. To them were born five children: Maude A., Kate N., Grace B., Lon R. and Howland S. Mr. Smith was active in civic, educational and social affairs of Algona, having at various times been a member of the city board of aldermen, mayor of Algona, to which office he was elected in March, 1883, and a school trustee of this district. He was also a member of board of county supervisors for six years. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity and has attained the Knights Templar degree. His active business life in the east and in Algona, together with his excellent business ability, bore fruitage in material things to such an extent that he is now passing his declining years in retirement and comfort in California. His long period of residence in Algona served to endear him to the hearts of large numbers of the people of his community, and John G. Smith and his family will not soon be forgotten in Kossuth county.